Yoke for game racket

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed herein a tennis racket comprising a frame member to provide a racket loop, a throat comprising convergent portions at one end of the loop, and a handle. Yoke means are provided across the throat to close the loop, said yoke means being either of single-piece or laminated construction. The yoke means have laterally directed grip portions partially embracing the frame member on either side of the throat, and means for engaging the racket strings.

United States Patent Portz 1 Sept. 30, 1975 [541 YOKE FOR GAME RACKET3.752.478 8/1973 Flak 273/73 H [75] Inventor: William E. Portz, Geneva,Ohio FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: True TemperCorporation, 4,445 2/1903 United Kingdom 273/73 H Cleveland, Ohio2,010,450 9/1971 Germany 273/73 D 736,167 9/1932 France..... 273/73 G[22] Filed: June 21, 1972 1,578,059 8/1969 France 273/73 G 224,724 111924 U 't d K' d 273 73 H 21 Appl. NO.2 264,820 m 6 mg PrimaryExaminerRichard J. Ap1ey {52] US. Cl 273/73 G; 273/73 D [51] Int. CL'A63B 49/02; A63B 49/12 58 Field of Search... 273/73 R, 73 c, 73 D, 73 o,[571 ABSTRACT 273/73 H There is disclosed herein a tennis racketcomprising a frame member to provide a racket loop, a throat coml lReferences Cited prising convergent portions at one end of the loop,UNITED STATES PATENTS and a handle. Yoke means are provided across the1,524,826 2/1925 lcke et a1. 273/73 H throat close the 199p Said yokemeans being either 1 1g 727 3/1927 Reach 2 3 H of single-piece orlaminated construction. The yoke 1,937,787 12/1933 Robinson... 273/73 Hmeans have laterally directed grip portions partially 1,942,479 l/1934Kleinman 273/73 G embracing the frame member on either side of the2,171,223 ROblIlSOl'l H throat and means for engaging the racket strings3.642283 2/1912 Wilkens 273/73 G 3,724,850 4/1973 Stevens 273/73 G X 9C1aims, 20 Drawing Figures US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of 43,908,995

US. Patent 9 Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 Of4 3,908,995

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,908,995

U.S. Patnt Sept. 30,1975 Sheet4 01-4 3,908,995

YOKE FOR GAME RACKET This invention refers to game rackets of the typeused in tennis and badminton and particularly to a yoke or bridgeadapted to be disposed at the throat of the racket.

Rackets of the type referred to which provide a network of highlytensioned strings as a striking surface are commonly constructed byshaping an elongated framing member in a single plane in such manner asto provide an oval-shaped loop with portions of the elongated memberconverging adjacent to one end of the loop to provide a throat, the endportions of the member coming together in a substantially parallelmanner to provide a handle. This type of construction leaves one end ofthe striking loop open whereby the same ordinarily must be closed by ayoke or bridge. The yoke commonly comprises a separate length of thesame material of which the rest of the frame is made. In otherinstances, an especially formed and fitted yoke member is inserted intothe throat. Whatever form the yoke takes, its purpose is to close andstrengthen the loop and provide some means at the throat or the open endof the loop for securing the ends of string running parallel with onedimension of the loop.

The present invention is adapted for use in a game racket constructed inthe above described manner and is particularly adapted for use in aracket frame of metallic tubular construction although it is notnecessarily limited thereto. The game racket of the present inventioncomprises an elongated member shaped to form a loop converging into athroat, a yoke being disposed across the throat whereby the loop isclosed. The yoke engages said elongated member across said throat andhas channel shaped gripping portions at either end overlapping andembracing a portion of the elongated member. String mounting means arecarried by the elongated member and the yoke at the inner periphery ofthe loop by means of which strings means are tightly strung across saidloop.

An object of this invention is to provide a game racket of the type setforth above having an improved yoke construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved yokeconstruction for use in a game racket.

A still further object of this invention is to provide, in a game racketof the type set forth above, means for firmly detachably securing andclosing the loop of the racket at the throat.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved yokeconstruction which overlaps and embraces portions of the racket acrossthe throat of the racket.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved yokeconstruction of the above type which effectively closes the racket loopbetween the frame overlapping portions and securely mounts certain ofthe racket strings.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a yoke constructionwhich can be readily detached and r'emounted to a game racket frame.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide, in a racket havingindividual string guide units, means for quickly and easily removing andreplacing worn or broken units.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a game racket yoke asset forth above which is simple and sturdy in construction and highlydurable in use.

Other objects of the inventionand the advantages thereof will becomereadily apparent from the following description of one embodiment of theinvention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a game racket incorporating oneembodiment of the yoke of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged outside plan view of a cover plate of the yoke ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an inside plan view of the cover plate of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a centerpiece of the yoke as seenfrom either side thereof;

FIG. 5 is a section taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 andgreatly enlarged thereover;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 1 and greatlyenlarged thereover;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of a string guideinsert;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail of the yoke of FIG. 1, portions beingbroken away or shown in section for greater clarity;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing another embodiment of theyoke of this invention; 1

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a yoke section comprising one-half of theyoke of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a detail plan view of a string guide insert shown in assemblywith the yoke in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a cross section taken along the line 12'-12 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIGS.8 and 9 showing still anotherembodiment of the yoke of this invention;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the yoke of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross section taken along the line 15+l5 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a cross section taken along the line 1616 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIGS. 8, 9, and 13 showing yet anotherembodiment of the yoke of this invention;

- FIG. 18 is a cross section taken along the line l818 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the yoke of FIG. 17;'and

FIG. 20 is a cross section taken along the line 20-20 of FIG. 17.

Referring now to the drawings in all of which like parts are designatedby like reference numerals, FIG. 1 shows a tennis racket generallyindicated by the numeral 10 formed of a single length of metal tube andcomprising a loop 1 1, a convergent throat 12, and parallel shankportions 13 constituting a handle. The extreme distal end portion of thehandle is preferably encased in a suitable hand grip portion 14 whichmay be of any suitable type and constitutes no part of the presentinvention.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, the tubular framing asherein disclosed is generally rectangular in cross.section having asmooth outer wall 17, inwardly slightly converging side walls 18,'and aninner wall 19 formed to providea continuous, inwardly expended, dovetailshaped channel 20 defined by a recessed bottom wall portion and inwardlyconverging recessed side wall portions 19b which are integral andcontinuous with the inner wall 19. As illustrated,

each wall portion curves gently into the adjacent wall portion. Therecess may be provided atthe inside periphery of the racket loop 11 asin the firstembodh ment of the invention(FIGS..1-8) or said recess maybe at the outside periphery as in the remaining embodimentstFIGS. 920).

In the first embodiment, the dovetail recess 20 affordsmeans formounting string guide inserts 23 each of which has a base 24, the majorportion of which is dovetail shaped in cross section whereby the samecan be inserted into the recess 20 and slid to any selected positionaround the loop 11. Each string guide insert is preferably made from asturdy plastic and includes an eyelet portion 25 which extends beyondthe recess 20 inwardly of the loop 11 and is connected to said base 24by a narrow neck portion 26. Each base 24 is provided with flatextensions 27 adapted to be disposed in i and project parallel with therecess 20 and serve as a spacer means between said insert anda nextadjacent insert. The flat extensions 27 'are adapted to. be trimmed tovariouslengths or eliminated altogether if necessary on one side or theother whereby to attain correct spacing of the inserts around the loop11. Each eyelet portion 25 has an aperture 28 projecting all the waytherethrough in a direction parallel with the recess 20 whereby all 'ofsaid apertures are spaced just inwardly of the inner wall 19 of the loopll. As shown in the side elevation of FIG. 7, the upper edges or cornersof the insert 23 may be rounded as indicated at, 29.

From the foregoing, it will be readily appreciated that any suitablenumber of string guide inserts 23 may be provided in the loop 11 bysliding the same endwise throughthe dovetail shaped channel 20 whichwill re-' tain them in said loop 11. It will further be appreciatedthat'said inserts 23 can be spaced closer together or further apartaround the curvature of the loop to afford the desired geometric stringpattern and that this spacing can be readily determined and maintained;by varying the sizes of the flat extensions 27 of the insert basesBridging the throat 12, thereby closing and completing the loop 11 atits lower end, is a yoke 30. As herein described, said yoke comprises apair of identical metallic cover plates 31 and a centerpiece or spacer32..

Each cover plate 31 comprises a flatibody portion 33 having an upperarcuate edge 34 so shaped asto close the open end of the loop 11. Theouter surface of the body portion 33 may be beveled at the upper andlower edges thereof if desired as indicated at 33a and 33b,respectively.

The body portion 33 is provided with a pair of symmetrically laterallyspaced apertures 35 so spaced as to be exactly aligned with likeapertures of an oppositely facing cover plate. Said body portion 33 alsohas a pair of apertures 36 which are countersunk as indicated at 36a andwhich are lateraliy offset, each being disposed laterally of one of thesymmetrical apertures 35,, in the same direction. The body portion 33 isalso provided with a pair of tapped holes 37 which are laterally offsetin the opposite direction with respect to symmetrical apertures, 35. Thespacing is such that one aperture 36 is disposed symmetrically with oneof the tapped holes 37 and the other aperture 36 is disposedsymmetrically with respect to the other tapped hole 37. Thus it will bereadily seen that when a pair of cover plates 31 are disposed with theirinner, like surfaces facing each other, a screw placed through anaperture 36 will be aligned and 53 corresponding in position to thepairs of aperr tures 36 and the pair of tapered holes 37,respectively,.whereby screws 54' can pass therethrough when secur with and can bescrewed into one of the tapped holes 37.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 3 showing the inner surface of acover plate 31, said cover plate is provided adjacent to the upper edge34 thereof with a recess 40 having a flat bottom surface 41 and inwardlyand upwardly'inclined surfaces 42. Each recess 40 provides, in effect,one-half of a generally dovetail, shaped channel 43 formed adjacent tothe upper edges 34 when a pair of said cover plates are secured togetherthroat 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the flanges45 are so shaped as to form achannel which fits exactly over. the side walls 18 and Portions of theouter and inner walls I 17 and 19 of the framing whereby the yoke 30 issecurely attached to the racket frame and the throat 12 is firmlymaintained against widening or other distortions.

The centerpiece 32 comprises a central body portion 47 which is flat andhas a major portion of its upper arcuate edge recessed downwardly asindicated at .49 whereby it is disposed slightly below the recesses 40of the cover plate 31. A pair of upwardly converging tabs 50 areprovided at either end of said recessed. upper edge 49.

The body portion 47 is provided with a first pair of symmetricallyarranged apertures 51 adapted to align with the apertures 35 of thecover plate 31. Said body portion 47-also has asymmetric pairs ofapertures 52 ing a pair of coverplates, 31 together (FIG. 5).

The laterally directed ends of the body portion 47 of the centerpiece 32are provided with slightly arcuate thickened portions. .55 each havingan aperture 56 therein. As shown in FIG. 5, the thickened portions areadapted to seat in the dovetail shaped channel 20 of the frame andaresecured in place by pins 57 which project through the apertures 56 andsuitable apertures 58 in the tubing wali. The grip portions. 44 of thecover plates 31 overlie the ends of the pins 57 thus retaining them inposition; With said cover plates secured together by the screws 54 oneither side of the center? piece 32, thedovetail shaped channel 43 isthus formed.

whereby the same will retain a plurality of the string guide inserts23.As shown in FIG. 8, in the embodiment herein illustrated, the right-handstring guide insert 23 has had most of the right-hand flat extension 27removed whereby the same abuts closely adjacentto the right-handtab 50to maintain its desired position. The tabs 50 retain the string guideinserts 23 of the yoke 30 against endwise movement withinthe groove 43..

In the embodiment of FIGS. 9-12, there is disclosed a two-piece yoke'60. comprising a pair of complemen tary yoke sections 61, one saidsection being shown in FIG. 10. The sections 61 are identical and are soformed that a pair of them can be placed or assembled at the throat ofthe racket frame from the front and back thereof, respectively, to gripthe frame member and complete the racket loop Each yoke .section 61comprises an uppermost, arcuate bridge 62 connecting the upper end of apair of grip portions 63 having offset and laterally projecting flanges64 defining channels and adapted tooverlap the front .or rear of theracket frame member portions comprising the throat 12. The lower ends ofsaid grip portions 63 are also suitably integrally connected by webmeans 65.

As best seen in the top plan view ofFIG. 10, each arcuate bridge 62 isprovided with a plurality of semicircular grooves 66 so arranged thatwhen two yoke sections 61 are assembled with their inner faces incontact, said grooves 66 form a plurality ofbridge' apertures 67. Toalign the yoke sections 61, each said yoke section is provided with aninwardly projecting locating pin 68 adjacent to one end of'the arcuatebridge 62 and a pin receiving bore 69 adjacent to the opposite end ofsaid bridge. Thus, when a pair of yoke sections-61 are disposed withtheir inner faces toward each other to form the bridge apertures 67,each pin 68 in the bore 69 of the opposite yoke section exactly alignsthe two sections to form the yoke 60. Said yoke 60 may be secured to theracket frame by any suitable means such as rivets 70 which projectthrough the flanges 64 and the frame portions forming the throat 12. Theyoke sections 61 are preferably fastened together at the bridge'62 by aplurality of fasteners 76 which may comprise screws, rivets, or thelike.

The arcuate bridges 62 as herein disclosed in this embodiment areparticularly adapted for the mounting of a string guide insert 71 (FIG.11) made of aflexible cushioning material such as plastic or the like.Said string guide insert comprises a plurality of tubular guides 72connected at like ends by alternately arcuate strip portions 73 andstraight stripport'ions 74. Between every other adjacent pair of thebridge apertures 67, the arcuate bridges 62 are provided with arcuateprotuberances 75 adapted to nestingly receive the arcuate strip portions73 when the tubular guides 72 are projected inwardly of the racket loopthrough the bridge apertures 67, as shown in FIG. 9. The tubular guides72 preferably project inwardly slightly beyond the arcuate bridges 62whereby to protect strings from the edges of the bridge apertures 67. Asshown, the strings are inserted through one of the tubular guides 72,disposed around aligned protuberances .75 and a strip portion 73 andreturned through the next adjacent of said tubular guides. It will beunderstood that the arcuate strip portions 73 do not need to be arcuatein form provided they have sufficient length to wrap around theprotuberances 75.

The form of the invention as shown in FIGS. 9-12 provides the advantagethat the bridge apertures can be preformed when the yoke sections 61are, for example, molded thereby eliminating a drilling operation. Itwill be further understood in connection with the last mentionedembodiment that the racket frame member can be of ungrooved andnontubular form or can be of the same shape as that shown in the firstembodiment and that the strings may be mounted to the remainder of theracket loop in any suitable manner.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. l316, a one-piece yoke 80is shown. said yoke comprising a pair of laterally facing, arcuate gripportions 81 each having a pair of parallel, laterally directed flanges82 defining a channel and adapted to overlap the front and rear side ofthe racket frame member at the yoke 12. The upper ends of said gripportions 81 are connected by an arcuate bridge 83 and the lower ends ofsaid grip portionsare connected by an attractive web 84. The arcuatebridge 83 is provided with a plurality of string apertures 85- by meansof which stringscan be mountedor secured to the lower end of the racketloop. As herein disclosed, the arcuate bridge 83 is of uniform crosssection throughout its length and the same may beprovided with-asuitable string guide insert to protect'the strings against abrasion atthe edges of the apertures 85'ifdesired. V The-one-piece yoke" *issuitablysecured to th frame of the racket by any suitable means'such asrivets the flanges 82 and the racket arcuate bridge 93 in "the samemanner as the apertures are provided in the arcuate bridge'83.

Means for securing the yoke to the throat of the racket comprise aplurality of cap screws 96 which project inwardly through thebottom wallportion 19a of an outwardly opening recess 20 and through thewall' 17',which is this form of the inve'ntion comprises an inner wall'of theracketfra'me. The wall portion 19a is provided with an enlarged opening99 large enough to countersink the cap screw headfAn upper pair of saidcap screws 96 project into thickened end portions97 of the bridge 93 anda lower pair thereof are threaded into a thickened reinforcementportion98 of the web 94. i i

From the, foregoingit will be readily seen that the present inventionprovides improved yoke means for a game racket which rigidly secures theframe members across the racket throat and effectively closes andcompletes the racket loop. In the case of the first embodi-j ment,an'improved laminated yoke is pro vided which is 'readilydetachable forquickly and easily removing and replacing worn or broken string guideinserts at the time of restringi ng. The second embodiment of theinvention provides an even simplier means for quickly replacing thestring guide inserts at the yoke at the time of restringing the racket.All of the embodiments provide a yoke that firmly grips the racket atthe curved portion of the throat by providing channel shaped gripportions overlapping the racket framing member and being so securedthereto as to give the frame and loop great rigidity and impactstrength.

It will be understood that many changes in the details of the inventionas herein described and illustrated may be made without, however,departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A game racket comprising an elongated frame member formed into a loopand having converging portions forming a throat and handle portionsextending beyond said throat; said racket having a longitudinal axis; ayoke disposed parallel with the plane of said loop and connecting saidconverging portions of said elongated frame member across saidthroat;said converging portions having inner surfaces directed towardsaid axis, outer surfaces directed away from said axis, andsubstantially parallel front and rear side surfaces; said yoke having oneach lateral side an oppositely facing, converging grip portion which iswider than said converging portions in arfront to rear direction and,

comprises a bottom wall and outwardly directed substantially parallelflangesdefining a channel shaped to substantially conform to the innersurfaces of said converging portions of said frame member, said innersurfaces, of said converging portions nesting within saidchannelsbetween flanges and on said bottom wall and said flangessurrounding substantial portions only of said front and rear sides ofsaid converging portions of said frame member; means securing saidchannels to said converging portions of the frame member; said yoke alsohaving a bridge means connecting said grip portions to each other acrosssaid throat, said bridge means including (a) string mounting meansdisposed along the lateral edge of the bridge means facing inwardly ofsaid loop, and (b) a rigid body portion disposed on the outward side ofsaid string mounting means away from said loop.

2.A game racket as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means securing saidchannel to said convergingportion comprises fastening means extendingthrough said converging portion of said frame member and anchored tosaid bottom walls of said grip portions.

3. A game racket as set forthv in claim 2 wherein said rigid bodyportion of the bridge meansof said yoke is integrally joined with saidgrip portions and comprises a relatively thin web portion spaced fromsaid string mounting means; at least one edge of said web having 1securing each of said channels to its corresponding,

tending between said grip portions; said bridge means and said enlargedreinforcement having end portions of sufficient thickness to receivesaid securing means; and said securing means comprises fastening meansprojecting through said converging portions of said frame convergingportion of said frame member comprises fastening means extendingthroughsaid outwardly extending flanges and said converging portion ofthe frame member.

5. A game racketas set forth in claim 1 wherein said vergent ends ofsaid grip portions; at least one edge of I said web having an integralenlarged reinforcement exmember and said bottom walls and extending intothe ends of said bridge means and the ends of said enlargedreinforcement.

6. A game racket as set forth in claim 1 said yoke comprising a pair ofcomplementary yoke sections each comprising one-half of said stringmounting means, body, portion and grip portions and being divided alonga central plane paralleliwith the plane of said loop portion and havingan inner surface facing the other section; each said half of said stringmounting means having grooves on its inner surface aligned with thegrooves of the othersection whereby upon assembly of two said yokesections to said throat, aperturesare provided in said string mountingmeans for mounting strings to said game racket.

7. A game racket as setforth in claim 6 each said half a of said stringmounting means having semicircular protuberances between alternateadjacent pairs of said grooves projecting outwardly of said racket, loopwhereby semicircular protuberances are provided between alternateadjacent pairs of said apertures of said string mounting means; aflexible string insert guide means in strip form comprising a pluralityof tubular guides inserted in said apertures, said tubular guides,

being connected by integral strip portions, alternate of said stripportions curving around said semicircular protuberances.

8. A game racket as set forth in claim 6 said means securing saidchannels to said converging portions comprising rivets projectingthrough both flanges of each said grip portion and said convergingportions.

9. A game racket as set forth in claim 1 said string mounting meanshaving through apertures therein the ends of which open inwardly andoutwardly of said loop; said string mounting means having semicircularprotuberances disposed between alternate adjacent pairs of saidapertures projecting outwardly of said racket loop; a flexible stringinsert guide means in strip form comprising a plurality of tubularguides inserted in said apertures, said tubular guides being connected tby integral strip portions, alternate of said strip por tions curvingaround said, semicircular protuberances.

1. A game racket comprising an elongated frame member formed into a loopand having converging portions forming a throat and handle portionsextending beyond said throat; said racket having a longitudinal axis; ayoke disposed parallel with the plane of said loop and connecting saidconverging portions of said elongated frame member across said throat;said converging portions having inner surfaces directed toward saidaxis, outer surfaces directed away from said axis, and substantiallyparallel front and rear side surfaces; said yoke having on each lateralside an oppositely facing, converging grip portion which is wider thansaid converging portions in a front to rear direction and comprises abottom wall and outwardly directed substantially parallel flangesdefining a channel shaped to substantially conform to the inner surfacesof said converging portions of said frame member, said inner surfaces ofsaid converging portions nesting within said channels between flangesand on said bottom wall and said flanges surrounding substantialportions only of said front and rear sides of said converging portionsof said frame member; means securing said channels to said convergingportions of the frame member; said yoke also having a bridge meansconnecting said grip portions to each other across said throat, saidbridge means including (a) string mounting means disposed along thelateral edge of the bridge means facing inwardly of said loop, and (b) arigid body portion disposed on the outward side of said string mountingmeans away from said loop.
 2. A game racket as set forth in claim 1wherein said means securing said channel to said converging portioncomprises fastening means extending through said converging portion ofsaid frame member and anchored to said bottom walls of said gripportions.
 3. A game racket as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rigidbody portion of the bridge means of said yoke is integrally joined withsaid grip portions and comprises a relatively thin web portion spacedfrom said string mounting means; at least one edge of said web having anintegral, enlarged reinforcement portion extending between said gripportions.
 4. A game racket as set forth in claim 1 said means securingeach of said channels to its corresponding converging portion of saidframe member comprises fastening means extending through said outwardlyextending flanges and said converging portion of the frame member.
 5. Agame racket as set forth in claim 1 wherein said grip portions andbridge means are integrally formed; said body portion comprising arelatively thin web spaced from said bridge means and connecting theconvergent ends of said grip portions; at least one edge of said webhaving an integral enlarged reinforcement extending between said gripportions; said bridge means and said enlarged reinforcement having endportions of sufficient thickness to recEive said securing means; andsaid securing means comprises fastening means projecting through saidconverging portions of said frame member and said bottom walls andextending into the ends of said bridge means and the ends of saidenlarged reinforcement.
 6. A game racket as set forth in claim 1 saidyoke comprising a pair of complementary yoke sections each comprisingone-half of said string mounting means, body portion and grip portionsand being divided along a central plane parallel with the plane of saidloop portion and having an inner surface facing the other section; eachsaid half of said string mounting means having grooves on its innersurface aligned with the grooves of the other section whereby uponassembly of two said yoke sections to said throat, apertures areprovided in said string mounting means for mounting strings to said gameracket.
 7. A game racket as set forth in claim 6 each said half of saidstring mounting means having semicircular protuberances betweenalternate adjacent pairs of said grooves projecting outwardly of saidracket loop whereby semicircular protuberances are provided betweenalternate adjacent pairs of said apertures of said string mountingmeans; a flexible string insert guide means in strip form comprising aplurality of tubular guides inserted in said apertures, said tubularguides being connected by integral strip portions, alternate of saidstrip portions curving around said semicircular protuberances.
 8. A gameracket as set forth in claim 6 said means securing said channels to saidconverging portions comprising rivets projecting through both flanges ofeach said grip portion and said converging portions.
 9. A game racket asset forth in claim 1 said string mounting means having through aperturestherein the ends of which open inwardly and outwardly of said loop; saidstring mounting means having semicircular protuberances disposed betweenalternate adjacent pairs of said apertures projecting outwardly of saidracket loop; a flexible string insert guide means in strip formcomprising a plurality of tubular guides inserted in said apertures,said tubular guides being connected by integral strip portions,alternate of said strip portions curving around said semicircularprotuberances.